mark, however, by which the angler may always at once distinguish the two fish on the most cursory examination is the mouth. This in the common carp has two little barbels or beards at each corner, whilst in the mouth of the Prussian carp no beards whatever exist." Of course there are other differences which will strike the anglernaturalist; but these are the principal, and amply suffice for distinguishing the fish from its confrères. 66 also,' The Cyprinus auratus, or gold fish, is another kind of carp, but whether an actually distinct species or not I am doubtful, for this reason: I have on two occasions found the Cyprinus carpio with bars of distinct golden colour on their bronze sides. I am, therefore, inclined to think that the auratus is a sport of nature which has been carefully bred and cultured until little or no tendency is exhibited to "throw back" to the original parent characteristics. Of course, this idea admits of discussion, and I do not therefore, insist on it. The auratus is a native of China, and was introduced to this country in 1681. In 1728 the then Lord Mayor of London, Sir M. Decker, possessed a goodly number. The Chinese feed them on white paste, and says Buffon, "give them lean pork dried in the sun and reduced to powder." Snails and their slime appear to be caviare to them. Buffon also asserts they will eat the lemna or duckweed, and also small fry It would appear that the Chinese make quite an industry of these little creatures, collecting the spawn on hurdles and protecting it until hatched by the warmth of the sun. Couch mentions that they exist in quantities in China in the receptacles used for condensing the steam into water near the factories. A temperature of 80deg. is by no means unusual in these places. At the Westminster and Brighton Aquariums are to be seen some curious sports of nature, termed “ telescope fish," with eyes projecting and movable, also possessing four distinct tails merged in one base. They are very curious and interesting varia tions of the common gold fish. The food of all carp is of a very diverse nature-almost all vegetables, when young and tender, from blades of grass to green peas and whiteheart cherries, all grain from maize to rye. Pastes are recommended, flavoured with cheese, sugar, honey, gin, and turpentine; flies, slugs, gentles, grubs, caterpillars, worms, are in the catalogue; even small gudgeon are not to be despised as bait, and I have known a large carp bite a decent-sized eel in half, swallowing the tail end. The habitat of the carp is chiefly lakes in temperate countries all over the globe. They are also found in rivers, but seem to thrive best in the quiet of sheltered lakes. India and China, Austria and Prussia, Russia and Eastern Siberia alike produce species of this fish. Valen F ciennes states that it thrives and reaches an extraordinary size in the Caspian. During summer these fish love basking in the sun, and especially in early morning before the dew is off the water they may be seen gambolling together when the water is still. In Virginia Water are some mighty old fellows, 18lb. or 191b. apiece, and I have seen them before now rolling like pigs, before sunrise, as I have said. They also, about this time, delight in shallow water, but as winter approaches they seek the warmer depths. They are essentially social fish, and love the company of their fellows. Their diseases are chiefly parasitic, owing probably to the lethargic habits of the fish. These diseases are usually most disastrous about spawning time, when old ones especially die from various causes. Flukes in the liver, like with a sheep, obstructions by chickweed and the anacheris weed, and tapeworm are the chief internal diseases, whilst a fungoid growth develops itself in mild seasons-"leprous" says Blakeywhich turns the fish almost white. I have seen a carp of 161b dead from this, and a tapeworm in the pyloric cœcum of some 15yds. The fish may now be seen at a little inn, the Jolly Sandboy, New Egham, Surrey, and was taken from Windsor Park. The carp has a most respectable ancestral history, and indeed a very ancient one, seeing that it is recorded that the father of Kungfoo, or Confucius, received as a present a brace of carp on the birth of his illustrious son, some 500 years before the Christian era. The Indian Rhohita, which is almost identical with our Cyprinus carpio, can trace a lineage more ancient still, for do we not find it was the form of a carp which Vishnu assumed during his second avater for the purpose of recovering the Vedas, or sacred books, that had been purloined by a demon during the general consternation caused by a deluge ? And, seeing this, need we be surprised to find that a fish of so much semisacred importance, and having so high and honourable a place in the Hindoo mythology, should be selected as an emblem of a peculiar Eastern honour, termed in the Persian Court language, Maha Maratib-the order or Dignity of the Fish? Mr. Pinkerton says in reference to this, "those admitted to the order receive the high-sounding titles of 'Victorious in War, Saviour of the State, and Hero of the Land,' and are distinguished by a representation of this carp formed of gilt metal and partly enveloped in a mantle of green embroidered cloth-the sacred colour of the prophet-being carried on a pole before them by an officer seated on an elephant." The Hindoo emblem indicative of the connection of the Rhohita with the religion is formed of three carps tri-corporated under one head, and decorated with the flowers and stems of the sacred lotus. The carp is the only fresh-water fish which has attained mythical honours. 46 We are informed in the "Whole Art of Fishing," 1719, that the carp is a stately and subtle fish, called the fresh-water fox and queen of rivers"-queen of rivers, I suppose, on somewhat the same principle as that on which St. Ambrose terms the grayling "the flower of fishes." In Heraldry, Randle Holme, in his marvellous collection of knowledge, "The Academy of Armory," informs us the carp indicates "hospitality, and denotes food and nourishment from the bearer to those in need." The associations of carp history are therefore redolent of salutary lessons and good qualities, truly suggesting generally the sacred ideal of being wise as a serpent and harmless as a dove. The date of the introduction of this fish into England is not quite satisfactorily proved. The old ryhme in Sir Richard Baker's "Chronicle ". Hops and turkeys, carps and beer, -is of course not correct. Leonard Mascal asserts that he introduced them, and Walton speaks of the circumstance as follows: "It is said they were brought hither by one Mr. Mascal, a gentleman that then lived at Plumstead, in Essex." This assertion is, however, not true, for in 1486 Dame Berners says, "There be but few in Englonde," which is of course equivalent to saying there were some, but not many. Mr. Manley, in the work before quoted, says they were probably imported from Persia and naturalised in the fourteenth century, but does not give his authority-a grave omission. Still, one may safely assume that the carp was a foreign importation about that time. It was introduced into Sweden in 1560, and has since become perfectly naturalised there. Shakespeare mentions it ("Hamlet," Act ii., scene 1), in Polonius' advice to his son, and both Massinger and Ben Jonson refer to the tongues of carps as eatables. Duncombe More than one writer translates Vaniere's The artfulness of this fish is indeed remarkable. has paid a tribute to this quality. oft quoted eulogium in a capitally vigorous style : Of all the fish that swim the watery weed, The little fry in safety swim away, And disappoint the nets of their expected prey. Another and more amusing poetical commemoration of the craft of the carp has been extracted from the "Censura Literaria," and published by Mr. Pinkerton. I have not space for more than a stanza or two. It is entitled "The Cunning Carp and the Contented Knight."" "To the tune of St. George and the Dragon": Within the wood a virgin ash Had twenty summers seen. The elves and fairies marked it oft, But the woodman cut it with his axe, He cruelly felled it down, A rod to make for the Knight of the Lake, Turn and taper it round, turner, Turn and taper round, For my line is of the grey palfrey's tail, St. George he was for England, St. Dennis he was for France. St. Patrick tanght the Irishman To tune the merry harp.. At the bottom of the slimy pool Were he at the bottom of my line, * * * * * Moulded and mixed is the magic mass, O'er the dark water flits the bat, Hoarse sounds the murm'ring rill; To the beetle's sullen tune; And grim and red is the angry head But name not the magic mixture To mortal that breathes on ground. The Knight having risen at sunrise and duly arranged his tackle, begins to fish-but the " magic mass " is ineffectual. But it was all of no use. The sly tenant of the pool" was too old to be tempted into an indiscretion so flagrant. Then up spoke the lord of Penbury's board, Well skilled in musical lore, And he swore by himself, though cunning the elf, He would charm him and draw him ashore. The middle of day he chose for the play, And he fiddled as in went the line, But the carp kept his head in the reedy bed, He chose not to dance nor to dine. "I prithee come dance me a reel, carp, I prithee come dance me a reel." "I thank you, my lord, I've no tart for your bɔard, St. George, &c. |